Ed SheeranCindy Duong

A Little About Ed Sheeran

Edward Christopher Sheeran, better known as Ed Sheeran, is a well known English singer, songwriter, and rapper. He was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire on February 17th, 1991 to Imogen Sheeran and John Sheeran and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk. He has an older brother, Matthew Sheeran, who also has a passion for music. Ed wanted to pursue his dreams in the music industry and started recording his own songs at a young age. After performing around England in his teen years, he moved to Los Angles in hopes of finding a sturdy foundation for his music career. He had no money or contacts, but was fortunately discovered by Jamie Foxx who was very impressed with his talent. Ed started working with Foxx who let him use his studio to record his songs. In 2011, Ed released his first EP, No. 5 Collaborations Project, which led him to sign with Asylum Records, an affiliate of Atlantic Records. Ed released his debut album + (read as "plus") on September 9th, 2011. The album had been certified seven-time platinum. In 2012, Sheeran won the Brits Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act. He released his sophomore album, x (read as "multiply") on the 23rd of June in 2014. His single from this album, "Thinking Out Loud," had earned him two Grammy Awards. His latest album, ÷ (read as "divide"), which contains 16 songs, was released on the 3rd of March this year.

Fun Facts

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Ed Sheeran performed his new single, "Shape Of You" from his newest album ÷ at the 2017 Grammys

Ed performed at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Sheeran wrote several songs for other music artists, such as One Direction's "Little Things," Jessie Ware's "Say You Love Me," Taylor Swift's "Everything Has Changed," and Rixton's "Hotel Ceiling."

Before he became a worldwide phenomenon, Ed was homeless.

Sheeran stated in an interview that he sees music as colors.

He played as an opening act at Taylor Swift's Red World Tour in 2013.

His musical influences are Eminem, The Beatles, and Van Morisson. He has also mentioned that his songs were inspired by messy break-ups and rocky relationships.

"Grade 8"

My mind is a warrior,

My heart is a foreigner,

My eyes are the colour of red like a sunset,

I'll never keep it bottled up

And left to the hands of the coroner,

Be a true heart not a follower,

We're not done yet.

And I see it in your movements tonight,

If we should ever do this right,

I'm never gonna let you down,

Oh I'll never let you down,

Now keep it on the down low

And I'll keep you around so I'll know

That I'll never let you down,

I'll never let you down.

You're strumming on my heart strings like you were a grade 8 but I've never felt this way,

I'll pick your feet up off of the ground and never ever let you down,

Now you're strumming on my heart strings like you were a grade 8 but I've never felt this way,

I'll pick your feet up off of the ground and never ever let you down,

Now, my eyes are a river filler,

This drink is a liver killer,

My chest is a pillow for your weary head to lay to rest again,

Your body is my ballpoint pen

And your mind is my new best friend,

Your eyes are the mirror to take me to the edge again,

Now I see it in your movements tonight,

If we should ever do this right,

I'm never gonna let you down,

Oh I'll never let you down,

We'll keep it on the down low

And I'll keep you around so I'll know

That I'll never let you down,

I'll never let you down,

You're strumming on my heart strings like you were a grade 8 but I've never felt this way,

I'll pick your feet up off of the ground and never ever let you down,

You're strumming on my heart strings like you were a grade 8 but I've never felt this way,

I'll pick your feet up off of the ground and never ever let you down,

Hold my heart to stop me bleeding now, now, now, and I'll never let you down

Hold my heart to stop me bleeding now, now, now, and I'll never let you down

Hold my heart to stop me bleeding now, now, now, and I'll never let you down

Hold my heart to stop me bleeding now, now, now, and I'll never let you down

'Cause You're strumming on my heart strings like you were a grade 8 but I've never felt this way,

I'll pick your feet up off of the ground and never ever let you down,

You're strumming on my heart strings like you were a grade 8 but I've never felt this way,

I'll pick your feet up off of the ground and never ever let you down

Song Analysis

Figurative Language

Line 1 & 2 (metaphor): Ed is comparing his mind to a warrior and his heart to a foreigner. Those lines simply mean that he's smart and intelligent, but he's completely inexperienced and clueless when it comes to love.

Line 3 (simile/imagery): He is comparing the color of his eyes to the colors of the sunset. You can imagine this in your head.

Line 4 & 6 (idiom): The speaker used the idiom "never keep it bottled up." This idiom refers to not keeping his feelings inside. "Be a true heart not a follower" means to be yourself and not follow the crowd or try to act like someone you aren't.

Line 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 28, 29, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38-41, 43, & 45 (hyperbole): The phrase "never let you down" is repeated several times throughout the song. The narrator is exaggerating that he'll never let the woman he is singing about "down" or disappointed.

Line 16, 18, 34, 36, 42, & 44 (metaphor/simile): "You're strumming on my heart strings like you were a grade 8" is an example of a metaphor and a simile. He is comparing his heart strings to those of a guitar/string instrument without exactly using any instrument names because grade 8 is the highest level a musician can get on an exam. Therefore, it is clearly making a reference to a musical instrument. He is also comparing the woman he speaks about in the song to a grade 8 using the word "like." The phrase in general interprets that she is metaphorically "playing" with his heart passionately and skilfully as if it was an instrument.

Line 20 (metaphor/hyperbole): Ed is comparing his eyes to a river filler. This indicates that he has cried so much that he could, exaggeratedly, fill up a river with his tears.

Line 21-25 (metaphor): The narrator is comparing an alcoholic drink to a liver killer. He is drinking away his sorrow with alcohol, which is known to be unhealthy for your liver. He is comparing his chest to a pillow, meaning she [the woman he speaks about] can lean on him when she needs to. "Your body is my ballpoint pen" is a phrase used in the song to compare the woman to a pen. She is a symbolic representation of his inspiration for this song. The next line, "Your mind is my new best friend," is a comparison between the woman's mind and a best friend because Sheeran connects with her and her thoughts in the same way one does with their best friend. The 25th line of the song is a resemblance between the woman's eyes and a mirror.

Line 38-41 (idiom): The phrase, "hold my heart to stop me bleeding," does not have a literal diction. In a different sense, it means the speaker is saying the woman keeps him in a state of gaiety and comfort, and without her, his heart is "bleeding."

Tone

The tone of this song is a mixture of insecurity and exhilaration because the author of this song is unsure of where this relationship may end up because he's inexperienced with love, but at the same time, he's looking forward to what's to come. He is trying to figure out if this woman he speaks of in the song is the right one.

Mood

The mood of this song is exciting because this song is describing the start of a new relationship.

Rhyme Scheme

The rhyme scheme of the first stanza (lines 1-7) is AABCAAB. The rhyme scheme of the second stanza (lines 8-15) and the fifth stanza (lines 26-33) is DDEEFFEE. The rhyme scheme of the third stanza (lines 16-19), sixth stanza (lines 34-37), and eighth stanza (lines 42-45) is GEGE. The rhyme scheme of the fourth stanza (lines 20-25) is HHIJJI.

Ed's Writing Style / Critique

Ed Sheeran has always been a great influence on the music I listen to. I believe he's one of the most brilliant artists in the music industry because he has a colorful, vivid way of writing. His lyrics are raw and come from personal experiences, which makes it easy for his fans to relate to. Ed revolves most of his writing around love, the ups and downs of relationships. His songs often provide several examples of figurative language, nuance, and sarcasm. His lyrics have a deeper meaning and challenges those who listen to his music to fully comprehend what he is emphasizing in his songs.